Signal 9 Reliant (4 Barrel Pistol)

Okay, I have no idea about this one. Definitely an oddity. I’m not sure if they are going to be at SHOT, but I will be on the lookout. The press release says it is designed for concealed carry but I have some doubts… Side-by-side .38 Spl seems like it would be pretty wide. I have to say, overall, it reminds me a little of that April Fools day joke around the Glock Revolver.

Signal 9 Defense, an innovative firearms company out of Gallatin, Tennessee is pleased to announce that they will be in attendance at the AcuSport Business Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Signal 9 Defense will have their four barrel pistol, the Reliant available for you to see and place orders. The Reliant is specifically designed for concealed carry, combining the reliability of a revolver with a profile of a 1911 pistol. Reliant’s innovative design represents true revolution in personal defense and is perfect for either a primary firearm or a backup for shooters of all experience levels. Signal 9 Defense has also partnered with LaserMax that allows for an optional integrated red or green laser that is controlled by a grip activated switch.

It looks like this is the actual first release of the product that was debuted back at NASGW in 2013.

Tom is a former Navy Corpsman that spent some time bumbling around the deserts of Iraq with a Marine Recon unit, kicking in tent flaps and harassing sheep. Prior to that he was a paramedic somewhere in DFW, also doing some Executive Protection work between shifts. Now that those exciting days are behind him, he has embraced his inner “Warrior Hippie” and assaults 14er in his sandals and beard, or engages in rucking adventure challenges while consuming craft beer. To fund these adventures, he writes medical software and builds websites and mobile apps. His latest venture is as one of the founders of IronSights.com; a search engine for all things gun related. He hopes that his posts will help you find solid gear that will survive whatever you can throw at it–he is known (in certain circles) for his curse…ahem, ability…to find the breaking point of anything.

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TheSmellofNapalm

Is this for idiots who bought way too much surplus small-caliber to be able to justify buying a magnum handgun? Ridiculous.

This is the Edge Arms Reliant pistol. They’ve been in development for a number of years, starting as a quad-rimfire pistol. I spoke with them briefly at the 2014 NASGW show. No idea on why the name has changed from Edge Arms to Signal 9, but the old Edge Arms site is now forwarding to Signal 9.

Phaideaux

So its a COP derringer. But it doesn’t even shoot .357.

Dan Atwater

Might have a better trigger though

Phaideaux

it’d be REAL hard to have a worse one. I wonder if its going to have the same kinda mechanism with a hammer and a rotating strike face thing.

-V-

Not sure what market they are going after considering there are tons of pocket pistols on the market now a days.

Dan

I think they are going after the its weird as hell I must have it market, or the I’m new to handguns and have no idea what to get but this thing has four barrels so it must be better market.

There’re no commercial firing models (although I’ve heard some folks have built them in the past), but the Richard A Coyle ones are great non-firing props. There’re also the imported ones from Japan, Like the Tomenosuke guns, are stupendously accurate and well made.

If you know of someone with machining experience and can get all the original components, of course, you could always just build a real firing one out of the original Charter Arms revolver.

Mazryonh

Deckard’s Pistol was based on a revolver, but unless it’s a sci-fi blaster you really couldn’t reload it easily.

On the other hand, try to see if you can get this similar reference:

“Why? You want to know why? OPEN IT!”

floppyscience

I think it’s cool and I’ll probably grab one for novelty if the price isn’t too bad, but:

This was tried before, and it didn’t work out too well.
Doesn’t even make sense really, people already sometimes complain about 5-6 shot revolvers not having enough ammo. It’s not gonna be all that compact with side by side barrels, and it has to compete in a market flooded with quite reliable compact semi-autos. And “innovative”? Please! Have they never heard of the COP derringer?
I wil say I’d probably rather have something like this than the Heizer Doubletap…

Tom Currie

All the DISadvantages of a revolver, combined with all the DISadvantages of a double-stack semi-auto pistol, AND in a marginal caliber, and AND an ridiculously over-complex mechanism to cycle firing each round.

What’s not to love

Bob Honiker

$500.00

Frank

Well to be fair, when the COP came about, you couldn’t easily get a permit to carry a gun in most states. In fact it was marketed pretty much as a police backup gun.

the ammo addict

I would love to see a company re-do the COP, but with a better trigger…and maybe a polymer grip frame to lighten it up. It wouldn’t be the be-all end-all, but it would at least be competitive and unique.

iksnilol

C’mon, scale it up to 12 gauge and make a stock and 45 cm (18 inch) barrels and we have a deal. Or just sell it as a SBS/AOW as competition to the Serbu Super Shorty.

3XLwolfshirt

So, thicker than a baby Glock, but only holds 4 shots?

Alex Nicolin

Why make a 4 shot .38 spl when you can make a 6-7 shot 9 mm semiauto of the same size?

BattleshipGrey

The Glock revolver sounds more appealing, even though it doesn’t exist.

gunsandrockets

If it’s cheap enough, if it’s light enough, I think this handgun has potential.

Even better if chambered in a smaller high intensity cartridge like the .327 Federal Magnum, which would highlight this particular kind of handgun greatest advantages over the revolver and self-loader types. No cylinder gap to rob power, absolute insensitivity to OAL cartridge length and bullet shape/crimping to reliable functioning.

the ammo addict

I agree, and though I like .357 Mag, the .327 Federal really would be the best option for this type of gun because it could be made considerably slimmer.

gunsandrockets

And of course the recoil and muzzle blast factors in a short barreled and lightweight pistol!